Thomas allen anderson



(No Model.)

T. A. ANDERSON.

PIUKER STAFF CHECK FOR LOOMS. No. 330,191. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

lltirran ST TES PATENT @rricn.

THOMAS ALLEN ANDERSON, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE'HALF TO JOHN ADAM BURGER, OF SAME PLACE.

PICKER-STAFF CHECK Foe LOQMS.

ESI EGIFECA'IION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 330,191,6lated November 10, 1885.

Application filed October 21, 1884.

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ALLEN ANDER- soN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lancaster, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Picker-Staff Checks for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of the cushioning device, described and claimed hereinafter, for

relieving the picker-staffs or pickers of a loom, as Well as the shuttle, from the destructive shocks caused by arresting the shuttles at their flight. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of sufficient of a loom to show the application thereto of a cushioning device for the picker-staffs or pickers. Fig. 2 is an exterior view of the cushioning device. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 1 2, Fig. 4..

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 3 4,

Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional View illustrating a modification of the cushioning device; and

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the device in its simplest form. Referring, inthe first instance, to Fig. 1, A is one of the side frames of the loom; B, the lathe, and D one of the picker-staffs. These parts, as well as others shown in this view, are common to ordinary looms, and there is nothing new in the mechanism for operating the pickerstaff and lathe.

The plate a, forming a part of the small cylinder E, is secured to the under side of the lathe B, at and near the outer end of the same,

in such position that its piston F will be struck by the picker-staff D, when the latter is moved forcibly outward by the shuttle.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, this piston F, which in the present instance is cup-shaped,

4O fits accurately, but so as to slide freely, in the cylinder, and is guided by extensions 0 e of the same, its outward movement being limited by small pads f f, of leather or other analogous material, secured to the guiding-extensionsee by set-screws 71 A spiral spring, b,intervenes between the closed end a of the cylinder and the closed end (Z of the piston, the duty of this spring being simply a retractor to return the piston to its normal position.

To one side of the cylinder is secured a regulating-valve, G, whichin the present instance Serial No. 146,076. (No model.)

is in the form of a common faucet, but which can be constructed in different ways without departing from my invention, the object of this valve being to regulate the escape of air under pressure from the cylinder when the pickerstaff is forced against the piston.

The inlet-valve H may also be made in different ways; but in the present case (see Figs. 3 and 4) it contains a chamber, it, formed in a tubular projection, t, on the cylinder, and communicating with the latter through an opening, m, the valve being seated upon a plug, 1), screwed into said tubular projection. When the valve is raised during the outward movement of the piston, air will pass freely into the chamber h, and thence through the opening in into the cylinder, the top of the valve being grooved,so that it cannot close the opening on.

.When the shuttle strikes the picker-staff,

the latter will be pushed violently against the piston F, which will yield to the blow with a readiness determined by the escape of air through the regulatingvalve G, this being the only avenue for the escape of air, but immediately after the picker-staff has struck the piston, and the latter has yielded, there will be a recoil, and the air will freely enter the space within the cylinder and piston, both through the regulating-valve and through the chamber of the inlet-valve, and will permit the spring-retractor b to return the piston to its first position.

It will be seen that the above-described device is an air-cushion for relieving the pickerstaff and shuttle from the destructive effects of the shocks caused by arresting the shuttle in its flight.

I am aware that it has been proposed to provide pickers for looms with checksprings for checking the pickers, as described in the British Patent No. 695 of 1874, india-rubber or steel springs being solely relied on to absorb the shock, whereas in my device the cushion of air is relied on for that purpose, and an air opening or openings provided in the cylinder for the escape and admission of air.

In looms in which a sliding picker is used the cushioning device must be so secured to the lathe that the picker will come in contact with the piston.

It is not essential in carrying out my invention that there should be both an outlet-opening for the discharge of air from, and an inletopening for the admission of air to the cylinder, for a single opening may serve as both an inlet and outlet, as shown in Fig. 5; but it is desirable that provision should be made for regulating the yield of the piston; hence the advantage of a regulatingvalve, which, as shown in Fig. 6, serves as an inlet and outlet; but I prefer an independent inlet by which air may be admitted to the cylinder, in addition to the air which enters through the regulatingvalve, thereby permitting the spring to perform its duty-promptly.

Instead of the extensions cc of the cylinder for guiding the piston, a rod, 10, Fig. 5, may be secured to the latter and may pass through and be guided by the closed end 0 of the cylinder, the rod being furnished with a nut, 75, and a washer, u, of leather, to limit the outward movement of the piston.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of the lathe and pickerstaff of a loom with a cushioning device consisting of a piston, F, a cylinder, E, secured to the lathe and having an opening or openings for the admission of air to and its expulsion from the cylinder, and a retractor for returning the piston to its normal position, substantially as setforth.

2. The Within described cushioning device, the same consisting of the cylinder E, constructed for attachment to the lathe of a loom, and having a regulating-valve, G, the piston F, and spring I), all being combined substantially as described.

3. The within-described cushioning device,

the same consisting of the cylinder E, constructed for attachment to the lathe of a loom, and having a regulating-valve, G, and inletvalve H, the piston F, and spring I), all being combined substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS A. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

H. -B. HEIPER, CHAsE. LONG. 

